Reversible meiotic arrest of bovine oocytes by EGFR inhibition and follicular hemisections.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of inhibiting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway on meiosis blockage and resumption, mRNA expression of genes involved in oocyte maturation and cumulus expansion, and embryo development. Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured for 15 h in the presence of the EGFR inhibitor (AG1478) and follicular hemisections (FHS). Most of the oocytes (89.

Bovine ovarian cells have (pro)renin receptors and prorenin induces resumption of meiosis in vitro.

The discovery of a receptor that binds prorenin and renin in human endothelial and mesangial cells highlights the possible effect of renin-independent prorenin in the resumption of meiosis in oocytes that was postulated in the 1980s.This study aimed to identify the (pro)renin receptor in the ovary and to assess the effect of prorenin on meiotic resumption. The (pro)renin receptor protein was detected in bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes, theca cells, granulosa cells, and in the corpus luteum.

Neospora caninum DNA detection by TaqMan real-time PCR assay in experimentally infected pregnant heifers.

Neosporosis has been considered the main cause of abortion between the first and the second trimester of pregnancy in cattle. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the presence of Neospora caninum DNA obtained from experimental models based on the evaluation of different areas of the fetal nervous system and organs from heifers previously inoculated with NC-1 after or before insemination. This study was performed with Hereford × Nelore (n=29) heifers and all animals were considered free of diseases at the beginning of the experiment.

Growth factor receptor-bound protein 14: a potential new gene associated with oocyte competence.

The Grb14 protein is a member of the Grb7 protein family. This protein family acts by binding to tyrosine kinase receptors, promoting cell proliferation and differentiation. There is evidence of the involvement of tyrosine kinase factors in the bovine oocyte maturation process.